Two centuries ago, English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge became intrigued by life in the womb. His words, written in 1802, still ring true: “The history of man for the nine months preceding his birth would probably be far more interesting and contain events of greater moment, than all the three score and ten years that follow it.”
Sadly, Coleridge was far ahead of his time.
For years, the brightest medical minds held onto a host of lesser thoughts. The fetus, for instance, was deemed a “perfect parasite,” mindlessly, efficiently siphoning off all that it needed from its maternal host. The placenta was seen as an ironclad barrier, blocking all harmful substances to the fetus.
Later, feminist theory said pregnancy was not a big deal and certainly not a reason to treat women differently from men. If a pregnant woman wanted to run a marathon, work 12 hours a day or rehab a house, she could do it all — at least until her water broke.
The close, reciprocal relationship of mother and fetus is “something we once knew,” but then was lost for a while, said Annie Murphy Paul, award-winning science writer, wife and mother of two.
Now fascinating studies on “fetal origins” are opening up a vast scientific frontier, suggesting that what happens in the womb is so important that it can affect people even for the rest of their lives, Ms. Paul said in her new book, “Origins: How the Nine Months Before Birth Shape the Rest Of Our Lives.”
For instance:
• Diet matters in pregnancy: Fetuses are not parasites taking what they need; they are “exquisitely sensitive” (and captive) to their mother’s diets, Ms. Paul wrote.
The list of potential no-nos for a pregnant woman is long, and the conscientious may refrain from eating peanuts (to prevent allergies), cheeses made with raw milk (to avoid infections with listeria, which can cause birth defects or miscarriage) and skip the swordfish dish (to protect their unborn child from any chance of mercury or pollutants).
But a healthy diet is fantastic for the unborn child: Folic acid staves off spina bifida. Red, orange and green fruits and vegetables; whole grains; and proteins all benefit the child. Extra-dark chocolate appears to reduce preeclampsia (a dangerous pregnancy complication involving high blood pressure). High intake of Vitamin D lessens the child’s chances of having asthma. Oh, and when mothers-to-be eat certain fish (e.g., sardines, salmon, anchovies, herring, tilapia, catfish and flounder) twice a week, their babies are more likely to score high on infant cognition tests. Fish is brain food for babies.
• Stress matters: For a pregnant woman, the calmer and more peaceful she can be, the better it is for her unborn baby. Studies show that pregnant women who experienced severe stress, such as a California earthquake, a Hurricane Katrina or a 9/11 terrorist attack, are at risk for early delivery and a low-birthweight baby. Even personal trauma, such as the death of a loved one, can affect the mother: A massive Denmark study found that if pregnant women lost close relatives, they were 16 percent more likely to deliver prematurely. The conclusion is that pregnant women need support, protection and nurturing, too.
Ms. Paul’s book assembles a range of research, from the sad story of thalidomide, a drug given to pregnant women in the 1950s that resulted in terribly deformed babies, to exciting new mice studies that show that if a pregnant mouse is fed broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts, its offspring are “much less likely to get cancer,” even when exposed to a known carcinogen.
In the end, Ms. Paul has a clear message for pregnant women: Realize the great thing they are doing.
Pregnant women can easily fall into feelings of guilt and worry: Should I have eaten that ham sandwich? Was there bisphenol A in that food container? Is my hairspray messing up my baby boy?
But the paramount truth, she said, is that for nine months, the mother is completely sustaining, protecting and nurturing her unborn child. And with renewed interest in “fetal origins” science, women should soon receive even better answers to their questions.
• Cheryl Wetzstein can be reached at cwetzstein@washingtontimes.com.
• Cheryl Wetzstein can be reached at cwetzstein@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.